HUG Computer Events

Below are the scheduled event dates for Winter 2012. Be sure to update your 2012 appointment calendar for January, February, and March.

Dues for 2012 is Due by the End of January - Please Support HUG

HUG Computer Event Schedule for Winter 2012

HUG News

Happy Birthday to HUG! HUG is now 29 years old! We are the oldest computer user group in South Central PA!

HUG has been meeting continuously since its first meeting in January 1983, in the basment of our founder and first president, Jack Stahl. Over the years we have met in many different locations. Aside from Jack's basment, we have held our meetings in the back room of a long out-of-business computer store on Paxton Street near the Harrisburg Mall, in the basement of a church on Green Street in Harrisburg near the Zembo Temple, in the Colonial Park Branch of the Dauphin County Library on Ethel Street behind Colonial Park Mall, in the IBM building off Erford Road on the West Shore, in the Hershey Public Library on Cocoa Avenue in Hershey, in Building No. 53 at the Harrisburg International Airport, in a meeting room of a business on Derry Street & Progress Avenue, in a training room of a Pinnacle Health building on Front Street in Harrisburg, in the basement of a church on Chambers Hill Road next to the Chambers Hill Fire Company, and lastly and longest in our present location in the church on Allentown Blvd. (If I overlooked any former HUG meeting locations then please email me.)

We have seen many changes in our computers and the way we use them in our HUG meetings this past 29 years.

We have also seen a change in the size and format of our meetings. Originally, our meetings were of an informational nature because personal computers were new. We wanted to know how our computers worked and what software was available to run on them. Most of our meetings consisted of demonstrations by our more skilled members or by company representatives.

In recent years our meetings have evolved into computer workshops where our more skilled members are available to assist other members troubleshoot and repair malfunctioning computers. Sometimes the problem is hardware related and sometimes the problem is software related. In either case, our skilled members present at the workshops usually know what is wrong and how to fix it. And we have a very high repair success rate.

Even if a member without a broken computer attends one of these hands-on workshops there is much to learn by observing the troubleshooting methods and the repair procedures employed to fix someone else's broken machine. We encourage all of our members to take advantage of watching and learning this way. If you shop around you will find that local computer stores now charge for $60 to $100 an hour for desktop computer repairs (laptops are higher). And charges for tutoring and training are typically $50 an hour. While these charges are reasonable in today's market for skilled labor the point is that HUG members can possibly save quite a bit of money on computer repairs or on tutoring sessions. After all, HUG charges only $15 a year for computer services at HUG workshops.

So, we intend to continue to hold our semi-monthly meetings and workshops as we have for 29 years. Please attend these workshops and support our efforts to help one another.

Printer Cartridge Refills in Harrisburg - As many of our members already know, you can get your expensive inkjet printer ink cartridges refilled instead of buying new cartridges. The very best place in the Harrisburg area to have your emply inkjet cartridges refilled is Cartridge World Store at Union Square Shopping Center, 3869 Union Deposit Road, just west off I-83, next to Chuck E. Cheeze. Their web site is http://www.cartridgeworld.com/usa/usa184/ .

When I get my HP black ink cartridges refilled at Cartridge World I pay around one-half the price the office supply stores and buyers' clubs charge for a new HP cartridge.

But before you go, visit this web site http://www.forwardmyflyer.com/cwhbg/ to print out a coupon for $5 off off your next refill and a $3 off coupon emailed to a friend.

So, with Cartridge World's normal discount over the office supply store or buyer's club price, plus the additional $5 discount coupon, you will save more than the cost of your HUG dues for 2012 on your next printer cartridge refill! Such a deal!

In addition, you can get your printer questions answered from Cartridge World's knowledgeable and pedagogic technical staff. They showed me how they refill cartridges. After watching, I learned that I should never attempt to refill cartridges myself. (Clint Eastwood, as "Dirty Harry" once said in a movie: "A man has just got to know his limitations.") They also explained why their refills can hold more ink than new factory-filled cartridges.

The store's manager, Linda Eyer, or anyone else on her staff, will answer any of your printer questions while you are there.

Important Reminders

HUG membership Dues for 2012 Are Due - HUG membership dues for 2012 are due in January. Many 2011 members have renewed at a December meeting. Please support HUG activities by continuing your membership for 2012. Your dues are essential in order for us to continue to use the excellent facilities provided for us by LifePoint Church. HUG pays for one-half of the Internet service provided by Comcast.

Make your check out to 'Harrisburg pc Users Group' in the amount of $15. Then bring your $15 check (or cash) dues payment to the next workshop. Oh, and if you checked the rates for technical assistance in computer shops lately you know that hourly rates are way up there. That makes your HUG dues a bargain, even if you don't need assistance at a HUG workshop during 2011.

Your Old Computers - Check to see if your last, but unused, computer is taking up valuable space. If it is, then consider donating it to HUG. We need good, modern computers to refurbish and retask.

A computer that is a Pentium 4 or newer (not over 5 years old), can be reused. It doesn't matter if it is a desktop or a laptop. We will repair it, refurbish it, remove all your personal files from the hard drive, and give it, or its constituent parts, a new home.

HUG is a qualified non-profit organization. Your donation of a computer to HUG may be tax deductable on your Fereral Income Tax. We can issue you the required letter to document your donation and its value.

Meeting & Workshop Attendance - Your Attendance is always appreciated. Please arrange to attend a meeting & workshop whenever possible. You are also encouraged to bring a guest. Perhaps your guest may want to join and take advantage of the technical assistance that HUG offers. If you are coming with a broken computer, you should email or phone us in advance so that we may expect you.

Your Opinions and Suggestions Are Important - If you have a suggestion about improving our organization, please feel free to contact any of your HUG officers and discuss it.

Lou Samsel      ( lou.samsel@pa.net)
George Eckard ( georgeeckard@comcast.net)
John Reinhardt ( john.reinhardt93@yahoo.com)
Wes Samsel     ( wessamsel@comcast.net)

The HUG officers and all other members appreciate your continued support for the Harrisburg pc Users Group. We hope to see you at an upcoming meeting. Even if your computer is functioning perfectly we enjoy seeing our members show up. There is always something to learn in our meetings/workshops.

~Lou Samsel, HUG President and Newsletter Editor